Inker



c. w. HARROLD ETAL 2,448,975

INKER Sept. 7, 19,48.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Sept. 5, 1942 INVENTORS BY (#144 155 HZ/424 040 fi/swer 1? Mars? w flrroe/verzs C. w. HARROLD ET AL INKER Sept. 7, 1948.

Filed Spt. 5, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVHVTORS c. w. HARROLD ET AL 48,975

Sept. 7, 1948.

INKER Filed sept. 5, 1942 A2804 0 are? 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOILS 4 6/04/2455 144/, 7 BY "fewer F. M

Patented Sept. 7, 1948 INKER I Charles W. Harold and Henry F. Meyer, University Heights, Ohio, assignors to Harris-Seyhold Company, a corporation of Delaware Applic tion S ptemb r 5, 1942, SeriaLNQ- 4.51.494

25 Claims. Nil -3.49)

This invention relates to improvements in inkers for printing presses. In some of its aspects it relates particularly to inkers for printing 2 Y cam means for momentarily separating certain rollers in the ink paths.

In the drawing one of the side frame members presses employing a form cylinder having a gap of an offset printing press is shown at It]. The in its periphery which gives rise to a periodic 5 machine comprises a similar frame member at interruption of the cont-act oi" the form inking the opposite side; Frame members H for the rollers with the form. inker are attached to the frame members IO- am'l, It is a general object of the invention to pro in effect, constitute continuations thereof. The tide an inker which is simple and economical in 'inker frame members carry bearings for a construction and efiicientin distributing ink and series of vibrating rollers l2 I3, I 4, I5, and i6, applying it to the printing plate. of which the rollers I 5 and [6 are storage rollers. Another object-is the provision of simplified These rollers have shafts which are adapted to means for driving and reciprocating the vibrating slide as well as to revolve in their bearings, and rollers of the inker. outside one of the frame members H these shaits Another object is the provision of an inker carry spur gears l1, l8, i9, 20, and 2t, all of having rollers of relatively small diameter only, which mesh with a wobble gear 22, the hub of wherein the first ink t'aken from a common diswhich is'fixed upon a shaft 23 which is rotatably tributing roller is conducted to a set of form mounted in the frame members and rotatably rollers positioned to make contactiirst with the a es n i k t a sm tt n r l 24 wh h plate on the plate cylinder and'wherein the sec- 0 driven by frictional contact with adiacent'rollers. 0nd charge of ink taken from the said common The web of wobble gear 2-2 is incli "ed to distributing roller is conducted along a path proaxis of shaft 23 but the teeth of the gear are viding additional working'of the ink toast ,of parallel to that axis, The sides of the gear are form rollers positioned to make contact with' 't'lle bevelled as indicated at for engagement-with plate after its contact with the first set, the 25 bevelled surfaces on disks 26 which are clamped secondset functioning-tosmooth out and equalize to the opposite sides of gears l1, l8, I9, 20, and the ink applied by the first set, 2i and form, in effect, flanges for those gears. Another object of the invention is the provision The disks therefore turn with the spur gears, and of means for improving the uni'formity of inking their engagement with the bevelled surfaces of of the form. 30 the wobble gear causes the vibrating rollers to Still another object is the p'rovision of means reciprocate. Hence the rotation and reciprocafor interrupting the transmission of ink to certain tion of the vibrating rollers are accomplished by a form rollers for aperiodeOrresponding to the single set of gears. As illustrated, the vibrating passage of the gap in the plate cylinder beneath rollers are all of the same diameter and their axes those form rollers. 5 intersect a circle 21 with its center at the axis of Other objects and features of novelty will gear '22, and this has an advantage from the appear as we proceed with the description of that standpoint of economy in manufacturing and embodiment of the invention which, for the purservicing, but it is not essential that the vibrating poses of the present application, we have illusrollers be of the same size. 'Ifhey can be of diftrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 40 ferent sizes in which event their axes will be Fig. 1 is a fragmental, elevational view of an arranged around the centerof gear 22 and at the offset printing press having an inker embodying proper distance away. The gearing preferably is the present invention; such that all the driven rollers have the same Fig. 2 is a fragmental end elevational view surface-speed as that the plate cylinder. partly in section along the line 2 of Fig. 1 The wobble gear ,22 is seen to perform two Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic, elevational view =lookfunctions. The web of this gear, being inclined ing toward the opposite side of the machine from to the axis of shaft 2 acts as a wobble plate to that illustrated in Fig. 1; reciprocat the vibrating rollers, while the teeth Fig. 4 is a fragmental, diagrammatic view of the gear are parallel to shaft 2-3 and act to partially in section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 5, the 'Otate th se rollers. center line A ra of the figure being shifted from In addition to the vibrating rollers and the its position of Fig. 33 for the sake of convenience; non-vibrating friction driven roller '24, the inker Fig, '5 is a f-raginental plan view partially in iirame members carry in conventional mountings section on the line 5-5 oi-Fig. 4; and ink distributing rollers 30, 31 32, 33, 34,- and 35 Fig. 6 is a detailed, elevational view showing which are composition rollers, and also comvidediin the frame U-shaped cavities 53 54 of roller rest and are journaled.

duced ends 66 of roller 32.

,which bear against cams tension springs 18.

position form rollers 36, 31, 38, and 39,

all of which composition rollers are driven by frictional contact with adjacent rollers. The form rollers are adapted to contact the plate 43 on the plate cylinder 4 l, and they rollers 15 and 16.

back and forth between vibrating roller contact in pairs the storage A ductor roller 42 swings l2 and a roller in-the ink fountain 43in the usual or conventional manner. Dampeningrollers 45 take moisture from a it from a ductor roller mittently with a roller this dampening mechanism known construction.

41 that engages 44 and roller 46 which receives inter- 48 of a water fountain, being of any suitable One of the features of our invention is the provision of means for periodically breaking connection between the rollers. 32 tween the rollers 35 ployed for the purpose will now be des At opposite sides of the machine just in the frame members H which are alike except as and I5 and be and H5. The mechanism emcribed.

with

there are brackets 50 to rights and lefts.

These brackets are threaded to take screws 5| which are arranged by sleeves 52 longer than the thickness of frame memb slightly ers l These sleeves are movable vertically in slots promembers. Brackets 5 in which the reduce what above the cavities 53 the inner faces brackets are provided with inclined slots 8 have d ends Someof the 55 for the reception of the reduced ends 56 of roller 34. On one side of each of these brackets there is a lug 51 having a tapped hole in which is mounted an adjusting screw end against a lever 59 which is ed upon a stud 60 carried by the frame.

will be understood that there are two such one at each side of the press.

Each of a second pair of brackets 6i positioned,

just inside the frame members is threa receive a screw 62 surrounded by sleeve 63 same length as sleeve 52, the sleeve 63 received by a hole 64 in the considerably larger diameter diameter of the sleeve. shaped sockets 65 for 58 that bears at its lower pivotally mount- It levers,

ded to of the being frame member of than the external Brackets 6| have U- the reception of the re- They are also provided on their inner faces with inclined slots 61 in which are received the reduced ends theroller 33. Each of the brackets 6! has an inwardly extending lug 69 in which there isa tapped hole for an adjusting screw 16 similar to screw 58. The lower end of screw 1!) against the outer end of a lever 1| that is ally mounted on a stud 12 carried by the In each of the studs 6| are formed sockets for pression springs 13, ends of the brackets 5| are biased towa right, holding the roller 32 resiliently but ably against the rollers l5 and l4.

bears frame.

12 and each of the brackets the reception of comby means of which the lower rd the yield- On the inner ends of levers 59 and 1| there are mounted roller followers 16 and 11 that ar to the shaft 23. It will shaft 23 turns,

and lower brackets 6| and that levers 59 14 and 15, respectively,

be apparent that as levers 1| will be rocked to raise will be similarly rocked to raise and lower brackets 56.

The upper ends of the brackets at each side of the machine are biased toward each other by rests upon roller l6, and when raised, as in Fig. 4, it rests in the U of brackets 50. Roller 32 rests upon ro Roller 35 most of the time shown -shaped sockets 53 for example, that roller that no additional ink is except when brackets 6| are raised. At all times roller 32 is maintained in engagement with roller l4 by compression springs 13. When brackets 6| are raised by levers 1|, springs 13 yield to permit roller 32 to ride diagonally upward along the surface of roller I4, which of course raises roller 33, the latter being maintained in engagement with roller 24, however, by the springs '18. Both pairs of movable rollers are returned to their lower normal position by gravity when the followers 14 and 15 ride oil the high spots of cams 16 and 11.

The inker is driven by an endless chain 8| that runs over a sprocket 82 on the blanket cylinder of the press and over a sprocket 83 secured to the hub of the wobble gear 22. All of the vibrating rollers are thus positively driven, and the remaining rollers are driven by friction. The dampening rollers 44 and 45 are driven by frictional contact with the roller 46, which in turn is driven by gearing meshing with a large gear 84 on the plate cylinder, the latter in turn meshing with a large gear 85 on the blanket cylinder 86. The impression cylinder 81 also carries a large gear 83 which meshes with gear 85. Power is transmitted by suitable means, not shown, from a drive pulley 89 to the blanket cylinder, from which the rest of the machine is driven.

Operation-Ink travels from ink fountain 43 over the surfaces of rollers 42, I2, 30, I3, and 3| to vibrating roller 14, which is always in engagement with distributing roller 32. Ink taken off of roller I4 by roller 32 is delivered first to storage roller l5 and thence to form rollers 31 and 36. The second delivery of ink from roller 32 goes to roller 33 and thence over rollers 24, 34, 35, and i6 to form rollers 39 and 38. Hence a greater but less evenly mixed charge of ink is ordinarily transmitted to the plate 40 form rollers 31 and 36 than from form rollers 39 and 38, a less quantity of act partially for smoothing out and equalizing ink then on the plate.

A portion of the water or other plate dampening fluid which is placed upon the plate by rollers 44 and 45 finds it way up into the inker from the form rollers, thereby diluting the ink and affecting to some extent the shade or degree of color in the printing. Periodically, however, the passing of the gap of the plate cylinder beneath the form rollers interrupts the transmission of dampening fluid to the form rollers, and for a corresponding period reduces the dilution of the ink on the form rollers and on the storage rollers l5 and Hi. In the conventional machine this sometimes results in a zone of printing near the front edge of each sheet which is somewhat darker in shade than in the balance of the sheet. This difficulty is overcome in our invention by the described mechanism for momentarily separating rollers 32 and 35 in succession from the storage rollers l5 and I6.

While the gap 80 is passing. form roller 36, receives no dampening fluid,.and that portion of the surface of roller 36, which receives no dampening fluid transmits none to storage roller l5. The parts are preferably so timed that when the forward edge of the undampened zone of roller 15 is on the point of engaging roller 32, the latter roller is lifted so transmitted to that part of the surface of roller l5 which is dry, relatively speaking. As soon as the dry" zone has passed, the roller 32 is permitted to descend again. In this mannenedlialization oi colorin printing is maintained; i

Since conditions vary fr'drr i time to timesand application of ink Althoughthe in'ventioi-iis illustratediii connection with a lithographic press, the various features, includingthe interruption of the trans"- mission of ink to the form rollers, are applicable toothentypes or printing presses. l 1 Having thus described oilrifi-vention, we claim:

- 1, In an of said rollers, an ink transmitting roller surro'undedby said vibrating rollers, means for driving's'aid ink. transmitting roller, a wobble gear means to eiiectrot'ation and reeiprocatiori'thereof, roller means providing anirik path from each of said storage rollers to the plate of the printing' press, and roller meansarra-nged to provide of said storage rollers to on. said driving shaft-i inde'r,

time of passage of the gap in the plate cylinder over the fornirollers associated withthat storage roller; 1

l 5; In an inker fora-printing press, a plate cylinder having a gap',a pair of storage rollers,- form i ollers' in contact with each of said storage rollsacn of said distributing ro'lle'rs from the corresponding storage rolleri'n predetermined relation 6, In aninlter "for a printing press, a plateicyl- ,inder having .aear 2; pair of storage rollers, form 3. In an hiker fora printing press, a plate cyll rollers in cdntact with each of said storage roller's: adapted to deliver inii'tc said plate cylinder, at distributing" roller adapted tc contact with each of said storage rollers fr' feeding ink to thelatt'er, andtwo cam mechanisms functioning individually in succession for separating each oilsaid distributing. idl-lers from respectivestorage-rollers.

7 an iiikei for printing inderhaving a gap, a pair of storage rollers, iorm rollers in contact with each of said storage rollers cylinder, a distributingroller adapted to contact Witheach cisaid storage rollers for feeding ink to the latter, a cam shaft between said distributing rollers, rtwd'carns on said shaft, and means actuated by said cams for separating each of said distribut ing. rollersf'rom' the corresponding storage roller iii-predetermined relation to the time of passage of the gap in the plate cylinder over the form rollers associated with the respective storage 8. In an inner for a'pilntir'ig press, a plate cylinde'r, two storage rollers, form rollers between the storage rollers and the plate cylinder adapted to be contacted in succession by a'given point on the surface of the plate cylinder, an ink trans- Ii'litting roller, distributing rollers including a roller between said trahsinittln'g roller and each oi said storage rollers, certain of said distributing idl-lrs being in contact v and means independent of said transmitting roller for dsliverlng inls to one of said distribut ihg rollers which is contact with the storage roller associated with thefcrm roller first contasted ii? aiven point on the surface of said plate cylinder; i Y

9. an inker-fcr' a printing press, a plate cyliiider, two storage rollers, form r'ollers between the' stcr ag'e rollers and the plate cylinder adaptd'td be contacted in succession by a given point on the surface-cf the plate cylinder, an ink tra nsinittiiig roller, distributing rollers including a pair of rcllers lzietween said transmitting roller and each of said storage rollers, certain of said distritiiitiiigi 'ollis being in contact with said storage rollers, and means independent of said trans- Ihittiii iollei icr delivering inktc one of said distribnting rollers which is in contact with the stcrss roller associated with the form roller first contacnedby a given point on the surface of said plate cylinder; l 10.- In an in-ker for a printing press, a plate cylinder, t'wo storage rollers, form rollers between the stdrag'idlll s and the plate cylinder adapted to be contacted succession by a given point on the suriace or the plate cylinder, an ink transinittin'g roller, distributing rollers including two rollers only between said transmitting roller and eacii'oi said storage rollers, certain of said distributing rollers being in contact with said storage rollers, and means independe t of said transmittingroller includin a, pluralityof continuously rotating rollers for delivering ink to one of said distributing rollers which is in contact with the storage roller associated with the form roller first contacted by a given point on the surface of said plate cylinder. i

l1.- Iii a printing press having a driven plate cylinderand a driven printing cylinder associated therewitli a series or positively driven ink rollers, a'driveiigear fixed on each of said rollers, a drivwith said storage rollers,

ing gear meshing with each of said driven gears, and means for transmitting driving force from said printing cylinder to said driving gear independently of said plate cylinder.

12. In an inker for a printing press, a plurality of parallel vibrating rollers, a gear on each of said rollers, an ink transmitting roller surrounded by said vibrating rollers, a wobble gear concentric with said transmitting roller meshing with and driving each of said first named gears, said the surface of the plate cylinder, an ink transmitting roller, distributing rollers including at least one roller between said transmitting roller and each of said storage rollers, certain of said distributing rollers being in contact with said storage rollers, and means independent of said ink transmitting roller for delivering ink to one of said distributing rollers which is in contact with the storage roller associated with the form roller first contacted by a given point on the surface of said plate cylinder.

14. In an inker for a printing press, a plate cylinder, two storage rollers, a gear on each of the storage rollers, a driven gear meshing with and driving each of said first named gears, form rollers between the storage rollers and the plate cylinder adapted to be contacted in succession by a given point on the surface of the plate cylinder, an ink transmitting roller, distributing rollers including at least one roller between said transmitting roller and each of said storage rollers, an ink fountain, and roller means independent of said ink transmitting roller for delivering ink from the ink fountain to one of said distributing rollers which is in contact with the storage roller associated with the form roller first contacted by a given point on the surface of said plate cylinder, said roller means comprising a plurality of positively driven rollers and a gear on each of the latter meshing with and driven by said driven gear.

15. In an inker for a printing press, two storage rollers, form rollers between the storage rollers and the plate cylinder, an ink transmitting roller, at least one distributing roller between said transmitting roller and each of said two storage rollers, one of said distributing rollers being disposed on each side of a plane containing the axes of said ink transmitting roller and said plate cylinder, an ink fountain disposed onone side of, said plane, and roller meansindependent of said ink transmitting roller for delivering ink from said fountain to that one ofsaid distributing rollers which is disposed. on ,the opposite side of said plane from said ink fountain.

16. In an inker for a printing press, a plate cylinder, two storage rollers, a gear on each of said storage rollers, a driven gear meshing with and driving each of said first named gears, .form rollers between the storage rollers and the plate cylinder, an ink transmitting roller, at least one distributing roller between .said transmitting roller and each of said two storage rollers, one of said distributing rollers being disposed on each side of a, plane containing the axes of saidink transmitting roller and said plate cylinder, an

. whereby a path ink fountain :disposed on one side of said plane, and roller means independent of said ink transmitting roller for delivering ink from said fountain to that one of said distributing rollers which is disposed on the opposite side of said plane from said ink fountain, said roller means comprising a plurality of positively driven rollers and a gear on each of the latter meshing with and driven by said driven gear.

17. In an inker for a printing press,.a plurality of positively rotated inking rollers, a gear on each of said rollers, driven rotary means for rotating and reciprocating said rollers comprising gear teeth meshing with said roller gears, an ink transmitting roller arranged with its axis within the pitch circle of said gear teeth and turning at an angular speed different from that of said gear teeth, and roller means between said ink transmitting roller and each of two of said inking rollers, whereby a path is provided for transmission of ink between said two inking rollers by way of said transmitting roller.

18. An inker for a printing press according to claim 1'7, wherein two of said inking rollers constitute storage rollers, and wherein form roller means is interposed between each of said storage rollers and the form of the printing press.

19. In an inker for a printing press, a series of positively rotated inking rollers two of which constitute storage rollers of said inker, form roller means for transmitting ink from each of said storage rollers to the form of the printing press, a gear on each of said inking rollers, a driven wobble gear meshing w'th and driving each of said first'named-gears, means on each of said inking rollers engaging said wobble gear for enabling said rollers to derive reciprocation from said wobble gear, an ink transmitting roller arranged with its axis within the pitch circle of said wobble gear, and roller means between said ink transmitting roller andeach of said storage rollers, whereby a path is provided for transmission of ink between said storage rollers by way of said transmitting roller.

20. In an inker for a printing press, a series of positively rotated inkingrollers, a gear on each of said rollers, a driven gear meshing with and driving each of said first named gears, an ink transmitting roller arranged with its axis within the pitch circle of said driven gear, and roller means between said ink transmitting roller and each of two of said inking rollers, said transmitting roller and said roller means being driven by surface contact from said two inking rollers, is provided for transmission of ink between said two of said inking rollers.

21. Mechanism, as claimed in claim 20, wherein saidv two. inking rollers constitute storage rollers of said inker, and including form roller means for transmitting ink from each of said storage rollers to the form of the printing press.

22. In an inker for a printing press, a series of positively rotated inking rollers, a gear on each of said rollers, a driven rotating element including gear teeth meshing with and driving each of said first named gears forrotating said inking rollers, an ink transmitting roller arranged with its axis within the pitch circle of said gear teeth, roller means between said ink transmitting roller and each of two of said inking rollers, said transmitting roller and said roller means being driven by surface contact from said two inking rollers, whereby a path is provided for transmission of ink between said two of said inking rollers, and interengagingmeans on said driven rotating element and said inking rollers for reciprocating the latter.

23. Mechanism as claimed in claim 22, wherein said two inking rollers constitute storage rollers of said inker, and including form roller means for transmitting ink from each of said storage rollers to the form of the printing press.

24. In an inker for a printing press, a group of rollers comprising a series of positively rotated inking rollers and an ink transmitting roller, composition rollers connecting each roller of said group with at least one other roller of said group, said ink transmitting roller being driven by surface contact and being connected by certain of said composition rollers for transmission of ink of said rollers, driven means for rotating said rollers comprising gear teeth meshing with said roller gears, an ink transmitting roller arranged with its axis within the pitch circle of said gear teeth and turning at an angular speed difierent from CHARLES W. HARROLD. HENRY F. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Dunk Mar. 10, 1868 North Aug. 1, 1899 North Dec. 12, 1899 Custer May 2, 1905 Harris et a1 May 5, 1908 Waite June 2'7, 1911 Droitcour May 31, 1932 Pearson et al July 10, 1934 Pythian Aug. 14, 1934 Schlesinger July 12, 1938 

